Millions of years ago the Potawatomi Indians hunted and fished peacefully in an area which is now a public wilderness preserve. In the tribe there were five young gentle hooligans, inseparable friends, united by their love of running — in places where most wouldn't even try to walk.

The five were destined from birth to run, perhaps due to the nickname bestowed upon them.

The two young girls and three boys whose names, translated, were Endurance, Challenge, Stamina, Obsession and Endless Trail. The elders in the tribe gave the group its nickname, Dances with Dirt.

About that time, English settlers began moving in to the DwD neighborhood. The great-great-great-grandfather of Al Gore, having already built the first mail system called the Pony Express, now had the formidable challenge of starting service to this new hilly, hard-to-reach subdivision.

The UHR (United Horse Riders) union, the backbone of the Pony Express, was responsible for getting mail to the tens of hundreds of people throughout the area. The first attempt to deliver mail came at a a terrible time. Almost as bad as the Christmas rush, the first delivery fell on the release of the annual Sears catalog. The skilled UHR tradespeople did their best to traverse the tangle of vegetation, but they were no match for the land of hills, swamps and hoof-sucking muck.

Looking to make a few extra bucks, five young runners offered their services to help relay mail by foot through this hazardous terrain.

Fearing competition and due to union regulations, the UHR rejected their offer and ineffectively toyed with the idea of creating their own division called The Ankle Express.

We all know how the story ends.

The Ankle Express was a flop and the UHR continued to deliver mail via horseback. The five amazing dirt runners completely dominated the market and eventually started the first overnight service.

It was well known that the Dances with Dirt team would go out of their way to find the steepest hills, the thorniest swamps and areas with the worst footing. They routinely crossed rivers just to keep the run as tough as possible. At times, the letters were delivered soggy, but at the end of the day, they were filled with joy and boundless energy.

In the Dances With Dirt tradition, legend, running, spirits, and the natural world unite in celebration to remember the Band of Five who lived to run. This race is a tribute to this obsessed team of dirt runners.

Each year, with your help, we attempt to recreate the energy, joy and sense of accomplishment of these incredible trail hooligans.